Pocket ground screw



Sept. 1, 1959 H. s. FRANK POCKET GROUND SCREW Filed Jan. 28, 1954 W WY Mm wmfl V. 0m m T Y A R R. A H

United States Patent Y POCKET GROUND SCREW Harry S. Frank, Bellerose,N.Y. Application January 28, 1954, Serial No. 406,791 1 Claim. (CI.2099) This invention pertains to new and useful improvements in groundscrew devices. It is particularly concerned with a pocket wire screwthat finds use in association with poles or posts and the like that areintended to be set in the ground.

Unless one first digs a hole, it is diflicult to insert a pole or postto any depth into the ground. This is so even when the ground isreasonably soft and the end of the post is tapered. Now, I have deviseda form of screw in the nature of a conical pocket into which the taperedend of a pole or post may be inserted and contained. By means of thisdevice the post may be easily screwed deeply into the ground quickly andwithout difficulty. The device is of a simple nature, fashioned ofsturdy wire. It is economical to manufacture and has considerablepractical value.

The device is particularly useful in entering various forms of posts,such as fence posts, clothes poles, and the like into the ground. Italso finds valuable use in setting posts deeply and quickly into the mudbottoms of streams, swamps and similar places. It is not, however,limited to these uses for, as this specification continues on, it willbe obvious that the device is subject to many other uses.

An object of the invention is, therefore, a simple and inexpensive meansof a practical nature for entering posts and the like into the ground.

A further object of the invention is an improved ground screw device ofa practical nature for easily entering posts into the ground.

A more particular object of the invention is a wire pocket screw thatmay be readily utilized in association with a post to enter the latterinto the ground.

The invention further lies in the particular construction of the screwand in its cooperative association with the articles with which it isutilized.

The foregoing objects and advantages of the invention as well as otherswill appear more fully hereinafter from a consideration of the detaileddescription which follows, taken together with the accompanying drawingswherein an embodiment of the invention is illustrated. It is to beexpressly understood, however, that the drawings are for purposes ofillustration and description, and are not to be construed as definingthe limits of the invention.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a view of a wire pocket ground screw embodying the invention;and

Fig. 2 is a view of the tapered end of a post received in the pocket ofthe screw, the screw being shown in section.

In describing the invention in further detail reference is directed tothe drawings wherein there is shown a Patented Sept. 1, 1959 pocketscrew 1 formed .of heavy, sturdy metal wire.

The wire coils helically from a wide end 2 of substantial diameter to atapered end 3 to provide a spiral thread or rib 4, whereby the deviceacquires the characteristics of a screw having a tapered pocket thatopens out at the upper end 2. The spread 5 between the turns of the ribis greater toward the upper end. It is desired that the last few turns 6at the tapered end of the device be in close contact with one another.This serves as a strengthening feature for the device when screwing itinto the ground.

The pocket formed within the device is adapted to receive through theupper open end 2 thereof the tapered portion 7 of a post 8. It isdesirable that the taper of the post complement that of the wire pocket,so that it will fit snug therein and in full contact with each turn ofthe wire rib 4. It is intended by this close association of the turns ofthe rib with the post in the pocket to avoid the existence of any spacebetween the two. In this manner dirt is effectively prevented fromentering between the turns of the rib and the post when using thedevice. Blunting the tip of the post as at 9 further aids in blockingout dirt at the end of the device.

The rib of the screw is wound in the direction of the thread ofconventional screws, and the upper end thereof terminates in a loop 10through which a fastening element 11 may be passed to secure the deviceto the associated post 8.

The device is of sufficient length so that the pocket formed therein bythe turns of the wire will be sufiicient to receive the whole of thetapered portion of the post as well as a small portion of the post atits normal diameter above the taper, as at 12.

The manner of using the device is reasonably apparent from theforegoing, however, something further might be added here. After thetapered end of the post has been received and contained in the screwpocket, the combined screw and post are ready to enter the ground. Thisis done by manually exerting a slight downward pressure on the upperportion of the post and at the same time rotating it. In this manner thedevice readily screws into the ground and carries the associated postdown with it. It is further plain that in swamps, muddy and sandy soils,as well as in other soils, the device is of inestimable value forreadily erecting without difficulty fence posts, poles and the like.

While the invention has been described and illustrated as above, it isto be expressly understood that the invention is not limited thereto,and it is my intent to claim the invention not only as shown anddescribed but also in all such forms and modifications thereof as may bereasonably construed to be within the spirit of the invention and thescope of the appended claim.

I claim:

An article of manufacture comprising a post having a uniform diameterand characterized by an elongated cone end portion having a blunt tip,and a pocket ground screw serving to facilitate entry of the post intothe ground, wherein the pocket ground screw comprises a plurality ofcoils of heavy round wire spirally wound about the cone end portion ofthe post and about a relatively short part of the uniform diametersection of the post above this cone end portion, the coils being inclose contact with the post, the lowermost coil being in contact withthe blunt tip of the post, the lowermost coil and some coils nextadjacent thereto being arranged in contacting relation with each other,and the coils next above the latter being arranged in widely spacedrelation to each other, and an eye loop terminating the uppermost coiladapted to receive a fastener for engaging the eye loop to the post.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 4McCallen Nov. 10, 1931 Hollos Jan. 17, 1933 Schroth Aug. 8, 1939 WaiteAug. 17, 1948 FOREIGN PATENTS France Sept. 17, 1920 Great Britain Apr.11, 1934 France Apr. 5, 1937 Germany May 23, 1952

